Royal Manitoba Winter Fair Cancelled

The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair has been cancelled, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event was scheduled to take place in Brandon during the week of Spring Break (March 30-April 4).

Ron Kristjansson is General Manager of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba.

"The Provincial Exhibition Executive Board met yesterday afternoon on recommendations and information we received directly from Manitoba Health and through the City of Brandon's emergency preparedness," he said. "It was just apparent that the social distancing requirements that they're recommending, it's just impossible to do at an event like the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, so the incredibly difficult decision was made."

Kristjansson says the event is based around the week of Spring Break, so it wouldn't have worked to hold it at a later date.

He notes the cancellation will have a major financial impact on the area.

"It's a huge piece of our organization. The Winter Fair is by far our largest event of the events we do, and for the community. It's been several years since we did an economic impact assessment. At that time it was sneaking up to $12 million of money brought into the Brandon community by the Winter Fair. If I had to hazard a guess, I would say it would be north of $15 million that will not be coming to Brandon because we don't have this event."

This would have been the 113th edition of the Winter Fair. The last time it was cancelled was back in 1952.

Kristjansson says refunds are being worked out for exhibitors and ticket holders.